The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
Transcript of The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 1/39
1
he Currency of Higher Education:
Credits
a
Competencies
Dr. Deborah M. Seymour
Assistant Vice resident
Center for Education Attainment and !nno"ation
American Counci# on Education
Dr. Deborah E"erhart
Strategist and !nno"ator
$Ariadne%%%%
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 2/39
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 3/39
What is a competency?
A competency is a
specific skill,knowledge, or ability
that is both observable
and measurable.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 4/39
What is Competency-Based Learning?
%&ransitioning a$ay from seat time# in favor of a
structure that creates flexiility# allo$s students
to progress as they demonstrate mastery of
academic content# regardless of time! place!or pace of learning. Competency-based
strategies provide fle"ibility in the $ay that credit
can be earned or a$arded# and provide students
$ith personali"ed learning opportunities.'
-(.. )ept. of Education
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 5/39
What is Competency-Based Education?
#Competency-based education *C+E, is an alternative to the credithour-based system of credentialing. tudent progress is based on
demonstration of proficiency and$or mastery as measured through
assessments and/or through application of credit for prior learning. n
competency-based education programs# time is the %ariale and
student competency mastery is the focus# rather than a fi"ed-time
model $here students achieve varying results. n competency-based
education# as distinct from competency-based learning# the focus is
on academic programs! practices! and policies.'
- Clarifying Competency Based Education Terms: A Lexicon
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 6/39
&otential enefits of competency ased learning
ocus on learning outcomes Learning activities and assessments aligned to
outcomes Credit for prior and e"periential learning
0otivated and engaged students Efficient# fle"ible# and lo$er-cost credentials ncreased student retention and completion rates
Lifelong learners1 portable evidence of learning Employers1 visibility into graduates1 competencies 2utcomes-based frame$orks for continuous
improvement
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 7/39
'W(T of Competency Based Education
Strengths Focus on learning outcomes Flexible Transparent Paths for post-traditional
students Potentially shorter time to
completion Potentially lower costs for
students
Opportunities Options for workplace
preparation & professionaldevelopment
uilding lifelong learningpathways
Opens options for alternativecredentials & micro-credentials
!aluing outcomes over inputs "ducational reform & renewal
#eaknesses $hallenges for scalability %anual processes for mapping
competencies to credit hoursdue to rigidly time-based SS
systems $" students need
Threats $redit-hour based *nancial
aid con+icts with competencybased models
,isaggregation of faculty
roles may lead to resistance Possibilities for over-
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 8/39
American Council on Education and Blac)oard
0utual interest in3
Credit for prior learning and credit mobility
erving post-traditional students )igital badging and alternative credentials
E"panding C+E dialogue
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 9/39
ACE-Blac)oard collaoration outcomes
4ublished Clarifying
Competency Based Education
Terms: A Lexicon
Leadership roundtables $ith
C+E practitioners
+lackboard blog series
ACE publications
4ublic orum releasing
research paper3 The Currency
of Higher Education: Credits
and Competencies
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 10/39
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 11/39
What*s in a name?
The need for definitions
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 12/39
Clarifying Competency Based Education Terms
56 terms defined
77 classifications
8 2vervie$
8 Competencies 9 Learning
2utcomes 8 Assessment 4rocesses
8 Evidence of Learning
8 Credentials
8+adges 8 nstructional and upporting !oles
8 tudent upport
8 !egulations 9 Accreditation
8 :alidation
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 13/39
Competencies and Learning 2utcomesCredentials
nstructional and upporting roles
tudent upport
!egulations and Accreditation
:alidation
ocus on institutions
and educational programs
Competency-Based Education +CBE,
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 14/39
Learning 4rocesses
Assessment 4rocesses
Evidence of Learning
+adges
:alidation
ocus on learnersand learning processes
Competency-Based Learning +CBL,
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 15/39
Competency2ccupational kills
2NE&
Learning 2utcomes
4rogram 2utcomes
nstitutional 2utcomes
Accreditation tandards
ocus on institutions
and educational programs
CBE Competency efinitions and .rame/or)s
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 16/39
CredentialsCertificates and )egrees
tackable Credentials
Credit for 4rior Learning
ocus on institutions
and educational programs
CBE Educational 'tructures: Credentialing
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 17/39
nstructor Coach
Assessor
Advisor
&utor
;<= Help and upport
ocus on institutions
and educational programs
CBE Educational 'tructures: 0nstructional 1oles
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 18/39
AttendanceCredit Hour
eat &ime
&itle :
)irect AssessmentE"perimental ites
Accreditation
ocus on institutions
and educational programs
7>
CBE .ederal 1egulations and Accreditation 1e2uirements
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 19/39
)ifferentiated Learning Authentic Assessment
4ro?ect-+ased Learning
0astery
4roficiencyLevelling (p
ocus on learnersand learning processes
CBL Learning &rocesses
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 20/39
+adges0icro-credentials
2pen +adge tandard
4ortable Evidence of
Learning+adge +ackpack
4ortfolio
4rofile
ocus on learnersand learning processes
CBL Badges and &ortale E%idence of Learning
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 21/39
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 22/39
Credit-hour processes are likely to remain deeplyembedded in post-secondary systems for some
time# but there is ample opportunity for innovation
$ith competencies as a parallel and
complementary currency.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 23/39
Competencies provide representations of learningoutcomes that are more flexile and transparent
than credits.
Competencies are more prone to change over time
than the fixed-unit representation of credit hours.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 24/39
tudents need to kno$ ho$ they can evaluate the
2uality of C+E programs# but little structure is
currently available to help students in this regard.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 25/39
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 26/39
Badges and other micro-credentials can beuseful bearers of competencies achieved# and as
employers begin to accept their value# they can
become part of the frame$ork for competency
exchange %alue.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 27/39
mplementing C+E practices in credit-hour
environments is comple"# but C+E faces fe$er
barriers and can more rapidly provide benefits to
large numers of students $hen outcomes-basedapproaches are compatible $ith credit-hour systems
and processes.
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 28/39
Credits and competencies both reflect important
structures of value for diverse stakeholders3
government agencies educational leaders and administrators faculty assessors students employers
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 29/39
3ni%ersity Context
@hich programs and credentials are strong at your institution Ho$ do you
evaluate this strengthBby reputation# graduation data# employment ofgraduates in their field of study
imilarly# $hich programs and credentials are $eak
@hat e"ternal pressures are likely to have the largest impact on your
institution in the ne"t -D years @hat is your strategy for addressing thesepressures
Ho$ can a focus on learning outcomes help
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 30/39
4o%ernment 'ta)eholders
Are there ne$ legislative incentives or penalties to $hich your
institution is reacting )o you have plans for ho$ to implementeffective changes in response
Are there legislative initiatives that $ould benefit your institution $ith
$hich you can get involved or even influence the development of
Ho$ can you stimulate discussion about the relationship bet$een
educational learning outcomes and legislative actions
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 31/39
Economic e%elopment Context
@hat market and economic trends call for innovation in your institution1s
programs and credentials
)o your students have a clear sense of ho$ your programs and
credentials align to employment and career opportunities
)o you map competencies achieved in your programs to $orkplaceneeds# not only for specific ?obs# but also for current and future career
opportunities
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 32/39
3ni%ersity Leader 'ta)eholders
Are there clear governance structures at your institution for ne$
program initiation and the improvement of current programs
f you are undertaking competency-based program development# are
strategies and goals for such programs and credentials clearly defined
Are university leaders at your institution invested# both fiscally andmotivationally# in a focus on learning outcomes and student success
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 33/39
'u5ect 6atter Expert 'ta)eholders
Are e"isting curricular models successful# by $hat criteria# and ho$ could they
be improved or replaced
@ho has the e"pertise to research# define# and organie competencies and
curriculum for specific programs and credentials
@hat types of frame$orks provide a holistic structure for competencies and
curriculum# and ho$ $ell are these aligned not only across programs andcredentials $ithin the institution# but also $ith e"ternal standards and
industry/employment reFuirements
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 34/39
Teaching .aculty 'ta)eholders
Are e"isting teaching models successful +y $hat criteria# and ho$ could
they be improved or replaced
@ho has the e"pertise to research# define# and organie learning materials
and activities that support the mastery of specific competencies
Ho$ can learning activities be aligned to mastery of competencies# not only
$ithin specific courses or modules# but also across programs and credentials$ithin the institution and in relation to industry/employment reFuirements
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 35/39
Assessment 'ta)eholders
Are e"isting assessment models successful +y $hat criteria# and ho$
could they be improved or replaced
@ho has the e"pertise to research# define# and apply assessments that
reliably evaluate the mastery of specific competencies
Ho$ are assessment processes aligned to mastery of competencies
across programs and credentials $ithin the institution and in relation to
industry/employment reFuirements
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 36/39
3ni%ersity Administrator 'ta)eholders
Are university administrators engaged in changes to programs and
credentials sufficiently to address the impacts on administrative processes
@ho is leading the processes for program and credential approvals by
accreditation agencies or regulatory compliance
Ho$ can academic changes that better support learning outcomes also
improve administrative functions# research# and reporting that both supportstudents $hile they are learning and document $hat they have learned
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 37/39
'tudent 'ta)eholders
Are e"isting programs and credentials successful for our
students +y $hat criteria# and ho$ could they be improved
or replaced
Ho$ can our programs and credentials best meet the diverse
needs of post-traditional students
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 38/39
Employer 'ta)eholders
Are employers and industry associations involved in the
improvement of programs and credentials
)o students have clear path$ays to ?ob and career success
)oes your institution prepare students not only for specific ?obs# but also for future careers and innovative lifelong
learning
8/20/2019 The Currency of Higher Education: Credits and Competencies (286461415)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-currency-of-higher-education-credits-and-competencies-286461415 39/39
Than) you7
Contact the researchers3
)eb eymour *ACE, dseymourGacenet.edu
aren Ioshino *+lackboard,
karen.yoshinoGblackboard.com
)eb Everhart# everhartGgeorgeto$n.edu# GAriadne6666
American Council on Education3 http3//$$$.acenet.edu/
C+E Le"icon# !esearch 4aper# and +logs3
http3//blog.blackboard.com/